Vacuum cleaner nozzle having pivoted cleaning element



Nov. 17, 1953 C.E.MEYERHOEFER VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE HAVING PIVOTED CLEANING ELEMENT Filed June 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l MMH:

/ Q R v N 4 LNVENTUR. fir! L. flayerfiazfer BY ATTORNEYS N 7, 1953 c. E. MEYERHOEFER 8 VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE HAVING PIVOTED CLEANING ELEMENT Filed June 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J I INVTORQ A TTORNEYS t'ar E/Wyerior/kr Patented Nov. 17, 1953 Tee sures PATENT OFFICE PIVOTAED "QEEANIN'G ration of N ew.York

minimum 1948,?S-efn511iefiiiftt This invention relates to a 'struc'tiir ally arid functionally improved ndzzle assembly espec-ial- 1y intended for team connection-with vacuum clean-mg apparatus.

{It isa primary object er the ii-mention P33551111- nish ra stfluctui efof this type a d byi rifeans er which iiairs, threads and similar foreign mate rial adhering to. the :fibers of a rug or to any other surface may ibe readily removed there'- tzfom. V

Aturthei dbj'ec't is that; Pof 'fIiPhiShingfSUCh :an assembly, the eperation 701' which "will be substantially eiitomatic so that no eoiiscious eiTort will Fla'e involved on the-part oi.- the ebera'tor in removing the threads, etcyfroih the surface :b'ein'g :cleaired; such rembvalbeing effected by the usual "traversing movements of the nozzle over such surface.

:A further bbject isthat of providing a nozzle assembly embodying ielatively few Zpai'ts, each Individually simple and rugged *conttru'ctioh imd cazpable 'bf being 'a'ea'dily assembled to nish fa tii'iitary apparatus functioning over "long periods of time with freedom from a'll dimculties.

With these and other'objects in mind refer ence is had to the-attached shee'ts'of draw-ihgs illustrating one practical embodiment of the irrventien and in which:

Fig. '1 is a fragmentary face view-o'f a nozzle :Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken alengthe 2-4 and in the direction "of the anrows as indicated in Figs '1;

'3 is a fragmentary somewhat enlarged sectional-view showing thenozzle in movement in one direction over a surface being eieahed; 4 is a similar view showing the normal position of the parts;

Fig. 5 isa bottom plan view of the-nozzle'es illustrated in Fig.1; v

6 is aview similar to Fig. -3 but showing thep'arts moving in an opposite direction;

Fig.7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View ofan element of thenozz-le; and

Fig.8 is a fragmentary perspective view of such element; 7

With particular reference to F-igs. 1-, 2 and-5 it'willbe "seen thatthenuni'er'al 10 indicates a housing preferably constructed or metal and having nooreonta'cfine nertiens 11-. This new zle is attached to a vacuum cleaner 6i sashes apparatus by means ai-areaiwaia-n extending tube 12 which may hes'wiiie llk ehuiile'ltethe housing 10 ans meant teens; membeis "to recluse or ehin'inate'ieekage 'rht' iitifihhg to ,2 may alsb broi ide a rees ciimear tment within which :a b'i ush Ht fs disposed ar-id which finish =1e n etraetedfor pr'ojeetee 'b'y @inesfis er mechanism lerierail y indicated 'at 15. mechanism "con'v'e'n'iems-Ly controlled by annie; teator 4'6.

The ieregorne stmeture has been enerall y il matted: in p'fior aipplication for Unmasvwes Lettei's Patent filed. in the fihafme "of Alex newytaandtcarl E. =Meyerhoefer rm Febr eaty 1 941,:and identified under-Serial num'her 725,8910 the "title offth'at iapnlication' being suctio'h 'Ndzzlewith Brush-I In- 'resisect'szthe .iiresent invention is intended for i158 feor'nbiriatioii with a meet the tyizreicoveiedwin that applicm tion. However, as-lwiiibe understood the iteicm ings :of this hpplicatioh m'aii be employed to ad"- i'n .numermis Essociatidhs and riot be necessarily be combined with a :bmsh sh ne ture. Thiis, exceptiwliere otherwise 'defihed by the :ciainis the showing of this assembly 'of mechanism-is to be taken in illustrativerathei' than 411 a limiting seiise.

.ats'sshbwnaespecialli in "Fig. 5, a cleaning for haw-and thread removing'sel'ement'is iirounted within the-mouth =1"! of the nozzle. bodil bf this velerhentihas been indicated at IB. Adia= cent its ends :it may :be provided with tears 1'9 frem'which iii-nevi!) extend. The lattef project through o'pening's forming parts of arms or brackets itsecuredto the main housing assein= bly -11! within the throat portion. v-As indicated by the reference "numeral 22 in Figs '7, one for both of theppinsflo may-be spring-pressed. This will permit of the 'body It :being -'cle'tacha'laoly mounted in the ;-position "described.

Thelower fac'e of elemeht l 8z--'with-'the iatter in Inormal position spreferably presents v'eom'b struetnrescomprising tows 'of opposed teeth 23 and 24 The-teeth 'M-of the forward rowshould be at'ieast-as large as the teeth23 of the 'rear 130% As show'n they are conveniently slighti y larger. Theset-eeth aresepara-ted by a tapered groove or space "25. iDiie-to the pivot'str'ucture provided hyith'e pins 20 or'thir eqliivalent, the cmhs andifac'ebffe'lem'efit "l8 may non-nan y 5rte'nd hewnwarmy as in Fi s. 2, *4, 5;, and e or may else-heioeke'd tpwerdw esteem thes pivers to asserts ptitibh as sheet in This seeking aetiee wa-n seen-autism t When the element is in what might be termed its downward position, further movement of the same to the rear is prevented by a flanged stop member or plate 27. In that position the outer edges of the teeth 23 and 24 preferably lie in a plane co-extensive with the plane into which the contacting portions H of the nozzle project. When element 18 is in its uppermost position as in Fig. 3, the two series of comb teeth lie immediately adjacent the forward wall of the throat portion ll. Again movement of the element beyond this point may be arrested by the stop plate 21 contacting a suitable portion of the element. As will also be noted from this figure the lower edge of the element-when it is rocked forwardly-may conveniently extend to a point slightly below the contacting portions H. In this position the rear edges of teeth 24 may extend substantially horizontally.

With the nozzle moving forwardly or to the left as viewed in Figs. 2and 6, the toothed element will assume the position shown in those figures. It will also assume the same position with the brush it projected as in the case of the parts being adjusted as shown in Fig. 4. As the nozzle moves in this forward direction pressure is necessarily exerted at a substantially 45 angle through the fitting or tube [2. Consequently the ridges of the plate defining the throat H, the teeth of the comb and the brush M (if projected) all intimately engage the nap of the carpet. Therefore in order for air to flow it must pass through the body of the carpet and the nap. Consequently imbedded dirt is removed on this forward stroke of the nozzle. At the same time teeth 24 will ride in contact with and depress the rows or tufts providing the nap of the carpet. In this manner the nap will be furrowed immediately in advance of being engaged by teeth 23 so that the latter will not entangle with the carpet nap should the latter be of looped formation. However, threads, hairs and similar substances will ride upwardly within the groove 25 intervening the rows of teeth and as the nozzle moves forwardly over the nap, these foreign materials will be caught against the forward edges of the teeth 23 and moved forwardly with the same. Upon the reverse stroke of the nozzle as shown in Fig. 3, frictional contact between the arcuate tooth edge face of the element 18 and the surface being cleaned will cause that element to rock upwardly. Therefore, the throat of the nozzle will be closed to a substantial extent. Accordingly the velocity of air flow through the passages which remain between the body of the element and the adjacent nozzle wall will be increased to a material extent; the rear part of the comb element body acting in cooperation with the flanged member 21 or other air obstructing surface. With the rearward stroke of the nozzle and as shown in the view under consideration, the latter will tend to rock to a limited extent around its rear edge. Therefore air will flow along the path indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. Such air flow will cause an outward and upward movement of the hair, lint and threads hooked or caught on to the forward edges of the teeth 23. Therefore this foreign material will be drawn upwardly through the throat of the nozzle and so into the dust receptacle of the vacuum cleaner.

Immediately upon initiation of a second forward stroke, the element I8 will again assume the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6. This will occur because of the frictional engagement e- '4 tween that element and the surface being cleaned and the movement of the nozzle over the same. Therefore the entire action will again be repeated. If the teachings of the present invention are embodied in a nozzle having a brush as shown and the latter is projected as in Figs. 3 and 4, an especial vigorous and deep cleaning action will occur as the nozzle is passed back and forward over the rug surface. In fact in many instances with the projection of the brush, hairs and threads which are somewhat deeply imbedded in the pile of the rug will be brought to a surface position where on the next stroke of the nozzle they will be caught by the teeth 23 of the comb. In this connection it will be noted as in Figs. 3 and 4 that the brush rocks in synchronism with the comb element. The arcuate movement of the brush is less than that of the comb. However, with the brush projected as shown in these figures, a forward movement of the nozzle over the surface to be cleaned results in the brush extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface being cleaned in order to agitate the fibers of that surface to a maximum depth and thus dislodge therefrom any deeply embedded foreign material or material which is entangled in the nap of the rug. When the nozzle is moved in a rearward direction as in Fig. 3, then in synchronism with the rocking of the comb element, the brush also rocks to assume a position inclined towards the opening within which that element is disposed. Therefore, incident to frictional contact between the nap and the brush, particles and other materials adhering to the latter will be wiped out of engagement with that brush as the nozzle moves rearwardly. Thereupon, with the next forward stroke of the nozzle, this material will either be picked up by the suction and passed through the throat of the nozzle or else will be engaged by the teeth of the comb element and distributed as afore described. Where no brush is employed or where the latter is retracted as in Fig. 6, the element i8 will still provide a most desirable function in conjunction with the flow of air through the nozzle itself.

Quite aside from the advantage of an apparatus such as this in removing threads, hair and similar material from a surface being cleaned, a great advantage is derived in that particles having high specific gravity will also be removed from that surface or the body of the rug. In this connection it will be understood that as the nozzle is moved forwardly surface dirt and'light particles will be drawn into the throat of the nozzle and then passed through to the dust receptacle. However, the degree of vacuum and veloc ity of air flow may not be sufficiently intense to remove particles having high specific gravity or which are deeply imbedded in the nap or body of the rug. Under these circumstances and during the rearward stroke of the nozzle, the throat of the latter is restricted to a material extentin the manner afore described. With such restriction the velocity of air flow is increased to a great extent. Therefore, any relatively heavy particles adjacent the nozzle in its passage over the surface being cleaned will be shifted by this high velocity air flow and transferred to the throat of the nozzle on the rearward stroke of the latter.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts may be resorted to withcutdeparting from-the" spirit of. theinvention as defined-by the I claim: v 1 vacuum cleaner nozzle 'comprising'albody formed its lower face "with a longitudinal opening extending transveiiselydio the of "nozzle "movemeni'r,-a ltl i'roat' portion communieating with said opening and -oonnectabie toa s'eurceof suction saidopen ih being defined-by spaced forwardandrearedge i'i'bstantially parallel 4 to the forward and rear faces of brackets "ihounted by saidbdiiy' ai', points'xadjacent to opposite ends of said opening, a flanged member extending from the rear edge of said opening in a forward direction, a comb element, teeth formed in one of the edges of said element and the latter extending upwardly from said teeth, pivots connecting said element with said brackets, whereby said toothed edge may rock from a point immediately adjacent the forward edge of said opening to a point immediately adjacent the rear edge of the same and the upwardly extending portion of said element engaging with the upper surface and edge portion respectively of the forwardly extending flanged member to provide stops limiting the movements of said comb edge in both directions.

2. A vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a body formed in its lower face with a longitudinal opening extending transversely to the direction of nozzle movement, a throat portion communicating with said opening and connectable to a source of suction, said opening being defined by spaced forward and rear edges substantially parallel to the forward and rear faces of said body, brackets mounted by said body at points adjacent to op-' posite ends of said opening, a flanged member extending from the rear edge of said opening in a forward direction, a comb element, teeth formed in one of the edges of said element and the latter extending upwardly from said teeth, pivots connecting said element with said brackets, whereby said toothed edge may rock from a point immediately adjacent the forward edge of said opening to a point immediately adjacent the rear edge of same, the upwardly extending body portion of said element engaging with the upper surface and edge portion respectively of the forwardly extending flanged member to provide stops limiting the movements of said comb edge in both directions and the toothed comb edge presenting an outer arcuate surface whereby said element will have a rolling contact with the surface being cleaned as said nozzle is reciprocated over said surface.

3. A vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a body formed in its lower face with a longitudinal opening extending transversely to the direction of nozzle movement, a throat portion communicating with said opening and connectable to a source of suction, said opening being defined by spaced forward and rear edges substantially parallel to the forward and rear faces of said body, brackets mounted by said body at points adjacent to opposite ends of said opening, a flanged member extending from the rear edge of said opening in a forward direction, a comb element, teeth formed in one of the edges of said element, the latter extending upwardly from said teeth, pivots connecting said element with said brackets, whereby said toothed edge may rock from a point immediately adjacent the forward edge of said opening to a point immediately adjacent the rear edge of same, the upwardly extending portion of said element engaging with the upper surface mdedge partied'mpecnveim-cr 'tna unman the-element; in specified.

4; vaeuum cieasnei nozzle including in combination a body movable forwardly and rearwardly over a surface to be cleaned, spaced forward and rear walls forming a part of said body and defining between them a relatively long and narrow opening extending in its lengthwise direction transversely of the direction of movement of the nozzle, a comb element disposed within said opening and pivotally connected to the rear wall of said body, means restricting the swinging movements of said comb to an are at one limit of whichand during the forward movement of said bodysuch comb extends downwardly adj acent the lower surface of said body without substantially obstructing said opening and at the outer limit of movementand during rearward movement of said bodyswings to a point adjacent the surface of the forward wall to substantially diminish the flow of air through said opening and to increase the velocity of air movement between said comb element and forward wall, said body being formed with a further opening to the rear of and parallel to said first-named opening, a brush disposed within said further opening to extend downwardly adjacent the lower face of said body, means for pivotally supporting said brush in such position to swing in synchronism with the movements of said comb as said body is moved over the surface to be cleaned, said brush supporting means maintaining said brush in a position substantially perpendicular to such surface during the forward movement of said body and said brush assuming a position inclined towards said first-named opening during the rearward movement of said body over such surface.

5. A vacuum cleaner nozzle including in com-' bination a body movable forwardly and rearwardly over a surface to be cleaned, spaced forward and rear walls forming a part of said body and defining between them a relatively long and narrow opening extending in its lengthwise direction transversely of the direction of movement of the nozzle, a comb element disposed within said opening and pivotally connected to the rear wall of said body, means restricting the swinging movements of said comb to an are at one limit of whichand during the forward movement of said bodysuch comb extends downwardly adjacent the lower surface of said body without substantially obstructing said opening and at the outer limit of movement-and during rearward movement of said bodyswings to a point adjacent the surface of the forward wall to substantially diminish the fl ow of air through said opening and to increase the velocity of air movement between said comb element and forward wall, said body being formed with a further opening to the rear of and parallel to said first-named opening, a brush disposed within said further opening to extend downwardly adjacent the lower face of said body, means for pivotally supporting said brush in such position to swing in synchronism with the movements of s d comb References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Cranmer Dec. 24, 1935 Juelson Dec. 20, 1938 Fechtenburg Apr. 4, 1939 Ross Apr. 8, 1941 Dunbar July 15, 1941 Gaines Mar. 3, 1942 Brock Aug. 3, 1943 Beede June 13, 1950 

